Method for Producing Leather in a Shorter Time

Among the most important factors in leather production, we can consider producing the leather in a short time along with softness and grain smoothness.

As we know, leather processing methods are gathered under 4 headings. It is finalized as pre-tanning, tanning, post-tanning, and finishing.

These 4 steps can consist of 14-15 processes. These consist of soaking, liming, refilling, deliming, bating, pickling, chrome tanning, basification, neutralization, retanning, dyeing, fatliquoring, and fixing.

Sodium sulfide and lime are used in liming and reliming processes. At this stage, it is used to remove hair, flesh, and certain unwanted substances found in and on the leather. Quaternary ammonium salts are used to neutralize the alkalinity property.

Pancreatic enzymes are used to further purify the matrix in the skin. The pickling process is used to prepare the leather skin for the subsequent tanning process. After the leather is tanned, it is tanned for a second time. It is fatliquored to soften it, and then the dyeing process is performed.

Changes occurring in the leather hide during leather processing cause different variations in pH. As a result, it is necessary to use alkalis and acids on the leather. This also leads to salt formation in the leather.

What Are the Advantages in Leather Production?

Leather production carried out with this method does not require acid washing, re-chroming, neutralization, washing, and fixing processes after tanning compared to traditional methods. Along with this, leathers equivalent to those obtained in traditional leather processing methods are obtained.

Along with the improvement of leather quality, it helps in a significant reduction in the impurities occurring in the leather. At the same time, it helps reduce pollutant chemicals within the waste materials and use less water.

How is Salicylic Acid Used in the Leather Industry?

For the sulfonation process, sulfuric acid and anthracene are mixed in a mixer for a certain period. When the clear solution is formed and the sulfonation process is completed, a mixture of Oxalic Acid, Salicylic Acid and Phthalic Acid is added into the sulfonated mixture.

Then sodium hydroxide is added to the solution. Next, an aqueous solution of sodium carbonate is added to the solution. Then, sheepskins are treated by immersion in this solution. In this way, the crusts of the produced leathers become full. This exhibits superior properties compared to leathers produced by the traditional method.